Store window display system



Aug. 1, 1950 G. R. DAVIS- STORE wnmow DISPLAY SYSTEM Filed Aug. 2, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

H770 EK Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFFIGE;

STORE WINDOW DISPLAY SYSTEM GuyB. Davis, Kansas (lity Mo.

Application AugustZ, 1948," Serial No. 41,938

Claims. (01. 179-1),

This invention relates broadly to the field of merchandising and advertising, the primaryob ject being to provide a system for displaying merchandise in a store window whereby to give the same an animated effect thereby attracting passers-by with the over-all result of-increased sales.

The most important object of this invention is the provision of a system of store window advertising wherein the displays thereof are mounted for individual rotation and have associatedtherewith, means for audibly setting forth descriptive advertising matter of the display as the same rotates.

Another important object of'this invention is the provision of an advertising system having a plurality of rotatable displays within a store window capable of being set into operation by a prospective customer through the medium of simply pushing a switch button, said system having a special electric circuit capable of simultaneously rotating selected display and placing a phonograph into operation for audibly' advertising the display.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a system as above set forth means for auto-- matically holding a selected switch closed'and,

opening the same to break the cycle of operation after the particular display has rotated one revolution.

Other objects include the way in which the cam element is mounted on each of the displays for closing a normally open switch: the way in.

which any one of said switches when closed is. capable of operating a time delay relay: and the way in which such relay operates to energize a solenoid common to all the switches for opening the same after the said normally open switch is again permitted to return to an open position after the cam element rotates therebyv In the drawing:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view ofya store window showing a plurality of rotatable dis lays mounted therein together with a loud speaker and a push button plate, all made in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic-wiring diagram'showing the electrical circuit forming a part ofthe ad vertising system.

It is apparent that a store window, broadh designated by the numeral lfl and illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing, may vary appreciably from thatshown without departingfrom this inven tion, the object simply being that of providing a store window capable of receiving a-plurality of rotatable displays 12.

Such displays 12 are each mounted'in the: usual manner upon a form 14: which is inturn connected to a'rotatable standard Hi. The particular way in which this standard I 6 is mounted for rotation within the store window [this of no prime importance and the details of construction thereof form no part of this invention and have, therefore, not been illustrated.

It is well known in the art that such rotatable standard |5= can easilybe connected to an electrio motor for actuation thereby. Accordingly, in Fig. 2 of the drawing, a plurality of such motors has been shown and the same are all designated by the numeral l8.

It is contemplated furthermore, that a phonograph or a plurality of phonographs'be associated with the displays l2. Such phonographs may be of the conventional character, each being 2!]. At least one amplifier 22 is connected with all of such phonographs and amplifier 22 has connected thereto a loud speaker 24-01 conventional character.

Such speaker 24 should be mounted where-the same faces outwardly and into the street, as clearly shown in Fig. l of'the drawing. a screen or the like 25 covering the outermost end of speaker 24 for protection thereof. Although this speaker 24 is shown in Fig. l as being mounted directly above the store door 28, its precise position is immaterial.

A switch plate 3!) is also mounted; adjacent door 28 or at another easily accessible point for operation by those who wish to have the displays 52 rotated and the advertising descriptive matter amplified through speaker 26. This switch plate 3i) carries a plurality of push button switches 32, each of which should be numbered in association with numbered plates 3d disposed incorresponding relationship with the respective displays 52. It is contemplated that the operator may select bv number the display l2 which he desires to be rotated and then push operation is made possible; connected directly to a pair of lead lines iiifiand 38 and "the plurality of phonograph motors 28:

are connectedthrough the. amplifier 22in parallel by means-of a pair of lines and 4 2.

The amplifier 22 is There is a switch 32 for each of the motors 2t respectively, said switches 32 being of a dual character and also corresponding respectively with the plurality of display motors l8. Switches 32 are all of identical character and each carry a pair of contact plates M and E6. Switches 32 are connected in series with the respective motor 233 and in the instance shown by Fig. 2, such switches 32 are within the line d2 leading from the amplifier 22 to the respective motor 2&3. Accordingly, actuation of a particular switch 32 will close a pair of contacts 33 and 59 for energizing the corresponding motor 28.

The motors 18 are also connected in parallel with the lead lines 35 and 38 by means of a line circuit includes a line Bil joining switch it with solenoid IS, a line 62 joining solenoid "E53 directly with lead line 36 and a line 8% that joins switches 76 with lead line 38. Obviously, closing of the switch '16 causes energization of the solenoid l8. Solenoid i8 is disposed in close proximity to the aforesaid reciprocable metallic interlocking bar for the switches 32 and when solenoid "28 is so energized, it will attract said bar and automati cally release the particular switch 32 that has V been closed by the operator.

52 leading directly from line 38 and a line 54- l for each of the motors i8 respectively. These lines 56 each have a stationary contact point ilii that is bridged with a second stationary contact point 58 by plate it of switch 32. This contact point 58 has connection directly to the leadline 36 by means of a wire til. Accordingly, it is clear that closing of any one of the switches 32 will simultaneously energize the corresponding motor 28 and the respective motor it which will in turn cause the corresponding display E2 to be rotated and a phonograph to be operated having a record disc containing descriptive matter of the particular display 42 that is being rotated.

It is contemplated that the switch structure embodying all of the switches 32 and associated with the plate 30, have mechanism therein capable of holding any one of the switches 32 in a closed position once'the same has been so actuated. Such structure is of conventional character and forms no part of this invention and, therefore, has not been illustrated. Suffice to say that one type of such structure includes a reciprocable metallic bar having notches formed therein for each of the switches 32 re spectively, said switches having a cam member that enters such notch and becomes releasably interlocked therewith. The reciprocable metallic bar is spring-loaded and when the same is moved in one direction against the action of said spring, the switch 32 that islocked closed will be released.

Such switch structures that are-obtainable upon the open market are also capable of permittin closing of only one switch at a time. This invention contemplates means for automatically reciprocating such bar to release any one of the switches 32 upon completion of a cycle of revolution of a particular display l2. Such structure includes a cam 62 for each of the displays l2 respectively associated therewith for rotation by means of the shaft of the re spective motor is as illustrated in Fig. 2. As sociated with each of these cams 62 respectively is a normally open switch 64 interposed between a wire (it having direct connection with the corresponding wire fi and a wire 68 joined. to solenoid "ill of a time delay relay broadly designated by the numeral'i2. The opposite side of this solenoid Ill is joined directly to the lead line 38 by means of a wire Hi. When the display 52 approaches the end of its cycle of revolution,

Such closing of It is contemplated that the relay 12 have a delay of approximately ten seconds before the same is capable of closing its switch 76. Accordingly, the particular motor I3 and its associated display i2 will continue to rotate even after its cam E32 closes the corresponding switch 64 to a point where cam 62 moves to again open switch 64. As soon as the switch Ed is again opened, the time delay relay '52 will come into operation to cause energization of solenoid l8 and release of the particular switch 32.

Manifestly, all of the switches 64 will always .remain open when the plurality of displays 12 from the spirit of this invention and it is, there" fore, desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a store window advertising system having at least one display rotatably mounted in said store window, a phonograph provided with a record disc having advertising matter descriptive of said display recorded thereon, an amplifier, means connecting said amplifier with said phonograph, a speaker connected with said amplifier, and a manually operable switch having releasable means for. automatically locking the switch against movement after the same is closed; an electric circuit; an electric motor for the phonograph and for the display respectively interposed in said circuit, means whereby said switch will simultaneously close the circuits through both motors when the switch is closed; and structure having parts mounted for rotation --by said display for releasing said means for ausaid store window, a phonograph provided with a record disc having advertising matter descriptive of said display recorded thereon, an ampli fier, means connecting said amplifier with said phonograph, a speaker connected with said amplifier, and a manually operable switch having releasable means for automatically locking the switch against movement after the same is closed; an electric circuit; an electric motor for the phonograph and for the display respectively interposed in means whereby said circuit, said switch will simultaneously close the circuits through both motors when the switch is closed; and structure having parts mounted for rotation by said display for releasing said means for automatically locking the switch after one cycle of rotation of the display, said releasable means including a metallic bar, said structure having electromagnetic means controlled by said parts for attracting said bar to a position releasing the switch.

3. In a system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said electromagnetic means is provided with an electric circuit having a normally open switch movable to a closed position by said parts.

4. In a system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said structure includes a circuit for said electromagnetic means, a time delay relay in said last mentioned circuit for closing the latter through the electromagnetic means, and a normally open switch movable to a closed position by said parts for operating said relay.

5. In a system as set forth in claim 2 wherein 6 said structure includes a circuit for said electromagnetic means, a time-delay relay in said last mentioned circuit for closing the latter through the electromagnetic means. and a normally open switch movable to a closed position by said parts for operating said relay, said parts including a cam for closing said last mentioned switch.

GUY R. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,842,895 Chadwick Jan. 26, 1932 1,873,790 Salcedo Aug. 23, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 318,877 Great Britain Sept. 9, 1929 

